METAL FASTENER FOR ENVELOPS, &amp; c.



No. 628,324. Patented July 4, [899. H. 6. HULCOMBE &...J. W. &. F. M. MADDOX.

METAL FASTENERFOR ENVELOPS, 8w.

(Application filed Aug. 13, 1898.)

m. Model.)

SR5 co. FHOTO-UTHO" WASHINGTON, q. o.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. HENRY oANNoN HoLooMBn, JoI-IN jw LsoN MADDOX, AND FRANCIS MARION MADDOX, or AUSTIN, TEXA SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,324, dated uly 4,1899.

which I Figure 1 is a perspective view of an envelop provided with our metal fastener; Fig. 2, a

detail view in section, on an enlarged scale, through the metal fastener before the parts thereof have been united; Fig. 3, a like View thereof after they have been united; and Fig.

4, a detail View in section of one of the fastener parts constructed differently from those in Figs. 2 and 3. v

- Letters oflike name andkind refer to like parts in each of the figures. g v

The object of our invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and easily-used fastener 5 adapted more especially for envelops, but capable of other uses; and to these ends saidin vention consists in the fastener constructed substantially as hereinafter specified.

Our fastener is composed of two parts or outward at each end. The internal diameter of the fem ale-member projection-b at its most contracted point is such that the male-member projection a can readily pass into the pro jection, and at the point where said projection 7) joins the female-men1ber base or head there is an internal narrow annular space or cavity b,- the use of which will presently appear. projection b at its most contracted point is not greaterthan the diameter of the outer or free end of the male projection, and hence when the two parts arethrust together, as-

shown in Fig. 2, the expanded free endofthe male will by engaging the contracted part of the female prevent anyseparation of the two The internal diameter of the female through the hole of which it passes.

Applieatlonfiled August 18,1898. SerialNo.688,503. a. model.)

parts without the application of some force.

The two parts are thus when combined, as

shown in Fig. 2, temporarily fastened together, and an important advantage of this is-that before the fastener is applied for use the two complementary parts thereof may be kept together in readiness for use. This feature is also useful, of course, when it is desired to temporarily close an envelop to which the fastener is applied. 1

a It is to be observed that our fastener beforethe two parts thereof are secured together as a complete article of manufacture has the free outer end of each shank outwardly flared.

To clearly explain the manner of using our fastener, we illustrate it applied to an envelop O, the envelop selected for illustration being provided with a closing-flapD and a supplemental flap E, designed to overlap the other. The female member B is secured to the envelop close to the mouth thereof, its head or base being on the inside of the envelop and covered bya piece of paper and its projection hprotruding on the outside of the envelop. The male memberA is attached to the flap E by having its base or head confined between overlapping-portions thereof, with its projection a protruding on what is the inner face of said flap. To close and secure-the envelop, the flap D is folded over upon the back thereof, a hole d in the flap passing over the female projection 19. The flap E is then turned over on the flap D, the male projection 61. being carried into the female projection b, and then by a blow or pressure the two parts are united, as shown in Fig. 3. Owing to the hollow and slightly-flaring form of the male projection when it is pressed against the flat bottom of the female base it spreads laterally, entering the annular space I) at the base of the female, and thus the secure union of thetwo parts is effected. The projection-b of the female being pressed against the flare of the projection a near the baseof the male is spread out thereby over the surface of the envelop adjacent to the hole d and itself constitutes a fastening or securing means for the flap or part The outward flare of the female projection is also important, because it conduces to the ready formed is quite ductile, so that but little force is required to compress and unite them as described. As there are no ribs or other offsets on the shanks, there is no obstacle to the close and tight bringing together of portions of the envelop to be united, and hence the scaling is not only free from undue thickening or bulging, but it is close and secure.

The base or head and the shank of each fastener part or member may be made as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or as shown in Fig. 4,

. fastener presents an insuperable obstacle to the opening of the envelop without injury thereto and the affording of readily-detected evidence that it has been opened.

side of the shank, and the base having the female being extended laterally inside of the shank, whereby each shank is spread outward by the base of the other when the two parts are forced together, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A fastener composed wholly of two complementary parts, each of which before the two are combined to form a permanent connection consists of a flat, or substantially flat base, and a connected hollow shank that is free from projections intermediate its ends, the shank of one part being male, and that of the other female, and the base of the female having an annular recess, and the free end of each shank being outwardly flared and engaging the base of the other, and being spread outward thereby when the two parts are forced together, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A fastener eomprisingtwo complementary parts, each of which consists of a base and a hollow shank, the shank of one being male and that of the other female-the female being enlarged in diameter at its ends, its outer end'and the outer end of the male being flared, and the diameter of the outer end of the male not'being less than the smallest diameter of the female, and the base having the inaleshank being extended laterally outside of the shank, and the base having the female shank being extended laterally inside of the shank, whereby each shank is spread outward by the base of the other, when the two parts are forced together, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this 4th day of April, 1898.

HENRY CANNON HOLCOMBE. JOHN WVILSON MADDOX. FRANCIS MARION MADDOX.

Witnesses:

CHAs. M. ROBERTS, M. ROBERTS. 

